Search Results for: venous

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The Resurgence of Honey in Wound Management

ByLaurie Swezey

Although honey has been used in wound management for centuries, and is mentioned in the Koran as a medicine for all disease, its popularity declined with the increasing availability of modern antibiotics, antiseptics and improved surgical techniques. However,  with the continuing battle against wound infection and interest in the antimicrobial properties – honey in wound…

Wound Pain Management

ByLaurie Swezey

An accurate wound assessment and diagnosis, as described in previous blog posts, is vital for understanding the origin and extent of the wound pain. Once the pain has been fully investigated, pain management strategies can be put into place. Underlying Cause = Underlying Source  many cases, the underlying cause of the wound is also the…

Chronic Wound Pain: Is it Really Such a Problem?

ByLaurie Swezey

A wealth of academic research has been devoted to the assessment, diagnosis and management of wound pain. A review of the resulting literature reveals the full scale of the problem, indicating that the vast majority of patients with chronic wounds, such as pressure ulcers and venous leg ulcers suffer from pain at the wound site…

Interactive Wound Dressings

ByLaurie Swezey

Wound dressings are sometimes described as passive, active, or interactive. While passive wound dressings simply serve a protective function, active dressings actually promote healing through the creation of a moist wound environment. Interactive wound dressings, on the other hand, not only create a moist wound environment but also interact with the wound bed components to…

Hydrocolloid Dressings

ByLaurie Swezey

Hydrocolloids are occlusive or semi-occlusive dressings consisting of a combination of gel-forming polymers that absorb exudate slowly by swelling into a gel-like mass. Hydrocolloids have different absorption capabilities depending on their thickness and composition. Upon removal, a residue commonly remains within the wound bed, which is often mistaken as a sign of infection. Although sometimes…

Foam Dressings

ByLaurie Swezey

Foams are absorbent dressings that are available either in adhesive or non-adhesive form. They are often used as a primary dressing, but may also be used as a secondary dressings in some circumstances. Some foam dressings are thin, while others are thicker and provide greater cushioning and absorption. Foams are formed from polymers, such as…

Alginate Wound Dressings

ByLaurie Swezey

Alginate dressings are made from natural polysaccharide fibers that are derived from processed seaweed. These non-woven, non-adhesive dressings are highly absorbent, soft, and conformable. They are easy to pack, tuck or apply over wounds of irregular shapes. Because they have no adhesive properties, secondary dressings must be used to secure alginate dressings. Alginate dressings are…

Clinical Presentation of Arterial Ulcers

Clinical Presentation of Arterial Ulcers

ByLaurie Swezey

Arterial ulcers are almost always located in the lower extremities; because of the increased distance blood must travel to reach those areas. Arterial insufficiency ulcers are commonly located on the toes, either dorsally or distally. Trauma is a leading precipitating factor in arterial- ulcer development, so potential causes of trauma should be assessed for ulcers…